Liposuction Recovery
All You Need to Know about Liposuction Recovery including different procedures, risks, costs, and recovery.
Male liposuction involves the removal of fatty deposits from the stomach, thighs, neck, and other body parts, and is quite a quick procedure with minimal recovery time when compared with some other plastic surgery procedures. Although it can take as much as six months before you are fully back to normal, liposuction recovery, despite being uncomfortable, is easier going than having of a tummy tuck, for example.
The procedure for liposuction is fairly unobtrusive, with the plastic surgeon poking a needle through a small incision to disturb and then suck out the offending fatty deposits. It takes an hour or two and patients may find themselves going home the same day, but may also have to spend a night in the clinic or hospital. There will be swelling and discomfort during liposuction recovery yet scarring is generally minimal.
Most patients are able to return to work after a week or 10 days, as long as there is no heavy lifting involved. There is generally some pain during the first weeks of recovery, including a burning sensation, swelling and possible numbness. Pain meds are often prescribed and may need to be taken for a couple of weeks. A compression garment will also need to be worn to keep the swelling in check, which may go on for several months depending on your natural healing ability. Maintaining a balanced diet and keeping up a regular exercise routine is paramount for keeping your new shape as although fat cells have been removed, the remaining ones can grow larger.
Aspects of liposuction recovery:
- Pain levels: depends on level of treatment but can range from mild to severe with up to two weeks on pain medication.
- Bruising: from two days to two weeks.
- Swelling: from two weeks to two months or more.
- Numbness: up to a month or more.
- Bandaging: replaced after a day or two and any sutures removed between five and 10 days.
- Work: patients can usually return to work between one and three weeks but there should be no heavy lifting for at least six weeks.
- Exercise: up to four weeks with light exercise building up slowly.
- Final look: between one and six months.
Tips for a faster recovery:
- Always remain hydrated by drinking up to eight glasses of water per day and go easy on caffeine at the start of recovery.
- Avoid alcohol altogether for 48 hours before and after liposuction surgery.
- Wear a compression garment as direction by the surgeon to keep swelling down and to aid healing.
- Don’t apply ice-packs/heating pads to the skin over the areas that have been treated.
- Use only soap and tepid water to cleanse the incision sites (not before seven days), avoiding hydrogen peroxide.
- Avoid taking baths, Jacuzzis, or going swimming for at least a week to minimize infection risk.
- Stand up and sit down slowly the first days after surgery to minimize the risk of fainting.
- Consider massage therapy through a specialist to aid lymphatic drainage, relieve swelling, and to speed up liposuction recovery.
